The Great Adventure  - Month 8

We have been on the road 8 months!  Some said it wouldn't last:)  We are here to say we love this lifestyle and are not ready to give it up any time soon:)   We have learned so much,  some trial and error.  Many good times  and lots of stories to tell.  We are so thankful we have the freedom to go when and where we want.  

We  are now back in Tucson at Lazy Days campground again.  We arrived April 1st at 5 P.M. and found our site.  Bob unhooked our tow car and I headed to the hospital.  My Mom was in surgery with 99% blockage in her coratid artery.  My brother was at my parents apartment in assisted living with my father, who  could not be left alone.    The past three weeks have been anything but "Lazy".

  The good news: My  Mom is improving daily, and is back home in her apartment.

  The bad news: My Dad is slipping further into severe dementia from Alzheimers.  

We have spent countless hours researching   "Memory Care" facilities trying to find a new home for my   Dad.  This has been an emotional rollacoaster for all of us.  Unfortunately he needs more care than my Mom and the Assisted Living Community they are living in, can handle.   We received a "Divine Appointment"  by way of finding a wonderful place for my Dad to move to.  The balance of our time here in Tucson will be helping my parents with the transition of the move.  

This will probably be my last post for a few weeks.  We will catch up when we are back on the road.

 Babysitting the Grandkids for a week

The last week in March we left Las Vegas and headed over to Monterey CA to help our son babysit his boys and dog, while Mom was out of town.   It has been a while since we have had that duty 24/7. 

 Wyatt the oldest will be three in July, and Campbell just turned one in January.   They are adorable, smart and very busy.  Nana and PaPa were exhausted by the end of the week, and welcomed Mom back with open arms:)    We had hoped to have a little more time with our daughter-  inlaw  but Val's Mom was having surgery the next day in Tucson and we needed to make a bee line to Tucson.

PaPa catnapping with the boys on his lap

Wyatt getting some educational time on the computer

Campbell trying to get Georgia to pay attention to him

Success!  Georgia sharing kisses with Campbell

Wyatt, enjoying his lunch, wearing paint on his shirt from pre-school

Campbell- The Happiest Baby ever!  Always smiling

Georgia and Ryder sharing eachothers bones

Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort

We arrived here March 7th and stayed three weeks.   If we didn't need to be in Monterey to babysit grandkids the end of the month, we would have stayed longer.    This is one of my favorites by far! 

 The location can't be beat.  Close to the airport, close to shopping and close to the Las Vegas night life.

I even found a church that I loved attending while we were here.   This park is all privately owned lots.  They have a HOA, and there are several lots for sale in the park.  We stayed on a perimeter lot with grass and palm trees and tall hedges on each side.    This is one of the friendliest resorts we have visited.  The owners all made us feel so welcome from the beginning.   There are several activities.   Five swimming pools,  a beautiful dog park, four laundry rooms and tennis courts.  Complimentary coffee and donuts are served on Saturday mornings in the Clubhouse,  Wednesday evenings there is  a catered dinner in the Clubhouse.  There are Happy Hours all over the park with neighbors getting together.    There is a private "Owners Lounge" above the Clubhouse that has a balcony for "Sunset Happy Hour" on Friday evenings for the owners.   There is a 50's Diner just outside the main entrance, that has great food!   I loved walking Georgia and admiring the different sites,  some look like living rooms in homes from"HGTV".   

We felt "Southern Hospitality"  in Las Vegas.  We made new friends with some of the residents that  own lots here.  We look forward to our return.

The Club House at LVM Resort




Many of the lots have been improved with "Outdoor Kitchens" and "Outdoor Living Areas"

Lush landscaping throughout this beautiful Resort

Outdoor entertainment area on one of the sites

Another beautiful site complete with Palapas ( the umbrella structures) and a golf cart

Outdoor living room  with  big screen TV behind the door under the Palapa

Another beautiful site with outdoor entertainment area

One of the  five pools on the property

50"s Diner 

Bob in the 50's Diner  - Great food & Service

Georgia enjoying the dog park.  You can read her review  in the post" Georgia's Point of View"

From  Georgia's Point of View

LVM  Dog Park Review

Georgia  (me) resting after playing "chuck-it" with my favorite ball

My mom is  usually the "blogger" in the family, but she decided to let me give my review on my favorite  RV Resort Dog Park.   We stayed at LVM  Resort in Las Vegas, for three weeks.  

 The park at LVM  is only fenced on three sides, which leads me to believe  the people there really trust the dogs.  It is like playing on a golf course without getting yelled at!   There is a bench for mom to sit on, if she wants, but she usually uses that to set my leash on while we play chuck it.   The  park is right across from the Gate Guard, so the Guards are entertained watching the dogs play, and sometimes they like to pat me on the head.  Mom is happy with this park because my paws stay clean.     Inside the park  fence I have to stay on my leash, but everyone really likes dogs here.  Mom always made me walk to the dog park, but there was a lucky Bassett Hound that always rode to the park in his dad's golf cart,  personally I like walking.  I give this park a "Four Paw" rating because  it is GREAT!   

LVM RV Resort  Dog Park

That's me returning with the ball 

This is the dog park area at LVM Resort, that is the Clubhouse just behind the fence

A Taste of Germany in Las Vegas  -

The Hofbrauhaus

If you love German food you will enjoy The Hofbrauhaus.  A replica of the original Hofbrauhaus in Munich German this place is complete with the "Dirndl" clad waitresses and  delicious schnitzel.    It was a trip back in time to fond memories of our time in Germany.  Servings are very generous, we could have easily shared a plate, however we both ate an entire serving by ourselves!  They have a gift shop that has German Trinkets and  goodies.  Perfect for shopping tourists.  This place receives 5/ 5 stars!

Bob, patiently waiting on the waitress to take our order

Yummy!   Schnitzel, German Potato Salad and Cucumber Salad

Missing the OOMPA Band 

No room for dessert after our delicious meal

Outdoor Resorts Motorcoach Resort 

Indio, California

We left Palm Desert on March 1st and took a short 20 minute drive to Indio, where we had made reservations  for four days at  this  Motorcoach Resort.  This is for Class A Motorhomes only and there is also a length minimum limit of 34 feet motorhomes.  This is a true Resort.  They have a beautiful clubhouse with numerous activities to keep you as busy as you want to be.  They have tennis courts, bocce ball courts, pickle ball, multiple swimming pools, an 18 hole executive golf course, and their own cafe on site.

All sites are privately owned, many with outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas.   We rented a perimenter lot  that included three brick pillars with outdoor lamp posts and lights, it also included a picnic table and an area plumbed for an outdoor kitchen and grill.    My overall  score for this resort would be a 9/10.  They would receive a 10/10 if they had a dog park.  They do have dog walk areas, but they are small.  The amenities are first class and the people were  friendly.   We will return and  stay longer next time. We are considering staying here when we snowbird in 2014, 

The location is convenient to shopping, but I do like Palm Desert better than Indio. 

Clubhouse

Golf  Course

Our  very own grapefruit tree  to enjoy on site 119  

Our site included a picnic table. and beautiful grass area with lemon and grapefruit trees

Site 119   Outdoor Resorts Indio

Golf Course lake view from a private RV site

Our Outdoor Living setup for watching TV in wonderful weather

Campfire and Friends

February 28,  2013

Val, roasting Easter Peeps instead of marshmallows

Our last evening at Emerald Desert, several of our friends got together at Phyliss and Nancy's campsite to have an evening of food, drinks, guitar pickin and singing around the campfire.  What a delightful way to spend time with friends.   This is the life!  We love it!  Thanks to our EDR friends for the memorable send off.

Friends  (Left to right) Harleen and Bill Robbins with Bob sharing stories

Frank McClernon (L) and Phyliss Neese(R) playing guitars and singing

( Left to Right) Bob Hummel , Frank McClernon, Phyliss Neese

Two Campfires to enjoy

Frank and Rita McClernon

Linda  Hummel (L)   & Frank McClernon (R)

 Remembering the 60's at Emerald Desert

 One of our evening events that took place during our stay at Emerald Desert RV Resort in Palm Desert California was "Remembering the 60's" .  This was an evening with four impersonators from Las Vegas.  We had a delicious catered meal, and then the fun began.  Barbara Striesand, Dion Warwick, Paul Anka and Neil Diamond were there to entertain us.

 Oh what memories it brought back.... and  new memories we made that evening!  We sang  along and danced too!  We happened to be at a table right up front, so we did have the best seats in the house. Thanks to our firends Rita and Frank McClernon ( they are early birds to every event to make sure that we had a good seat).  We were also joined by our  friends from Canada Linda and Bob Hummel.  (Linda is the best kareoke partner, she knows all the songs!)

The  entertainment opened with Paul Anka, followed by Dion which is when the fun really began.  Dion had everyone singing and then plucked Bob out of the audience to dance with her!   Oh my goodness, I laughed so hard I cried.  Bob was a perfect gentleman and danced  like a pro,,, although I don't think he is ready for the real "Dancing with the Stars".

Bob just as Dion  pulled him up to dance Ha Ha it was too funny!

When Neil got up on stage, he said he needed a lady to sing to, up close and very personal.   We all  pointed to Linda and Neil whisked her up to the front.  This was hilarious, as Linda started fanning herself and stated he smelled so good!   She was the perfect partner, she knew the words to all his songs.  

Neil Diamond and Linda making beautiful music together

Dion

Barbara Streisand seranading Bob

Curtain Call Finale' with all the stars.

Barbara & Neil singing duet "You don't bring me flowers"

We had such a wonderful evening.  We also made what I hope will be lasting friendships for years to come.

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!

 

 

 

First off,  my apologies for falling behind on  the blogging.  I have several pictures yet to be loaded into the computer, and haven't found or made the time to get it done:(   I will however catch you up on where we are and what we have been doing for the past couple of months. 

 

January 1  through March 1,2013

Palm Desert California at Emerald Desert RV Resort

 

We kept extending our stay at Emerald Desert,  as we made several new friends there and had such a wonderful time.  There was never a shortage of activities.  Val was busy with water aerobics and yoga, and Bob with golf .  Together we enjoyed bingo and entertainment shows at the resort.  I will eventually get the pictures posted.  Our last night at Emerald Desert some of our friends got together for an evening  of food & wine & singing & guitar playing around the campfire.  We had  such a wonderful experience snowbirding there we hope to do it again next year.

 

March 1-4 2013

Indio CA- Outdoor Resorts Indio

 

This is a beautiful resort.  We stayed on lot 119.  All the lots are privately owned, most with outdoor entertainment areas built on them.  We had a very nice visit.  Met another retired Army man and his wife, enjoyed an evening with them.  Spent alot of time just walking around and looking at all the beautiful amenities.  Bocce Ball courts, Shuffle Board, Tennis, and its own golf course.   Bob really enjoyed that.  We may return there to try it on a longer visit. 

 

March 5 - 7  2013

Nellis  AFB Fam Camp in Las Vegas Nevada

 

We  made the trip over to Nellis, and found the Fam Camp there to be very nice and included a large dog park.  The base is beautiful with wonderful Base Exchange and Commissary, which we took full advantage of.    The down side is the noise level from the jets in training all  day long and into the late evening.   Val needed to fly to Atlanta for a few days so we moved closer to the airport.

 

March 7 - 25 2013

Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort, Las Vegas Nevada

 

This place is by far one of our favorites.  I will do a separate blog on it later.  Absolutely gorgeous all lots are owned by private owners.  The buildouts on the outdoor entertainment areas were amazing.  The people were delightful, and we felt totally at home.  Loved it.

 

March 26 -31 2013

Monterey CA   Babysitting Grand Kids & overnight visit with our daughter Tracey in LA

 

April 1 -  ??

Back to Tucson  where we will remian for a while.  Val's Mom is in the hospital hopefully returning home today.  We will stay for a while to help.